Grammar: Subject Verb Agreement - Worksheet - Free Printable
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Step-by-step solution for: Grammar: Subject Verb Agreement - Worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Grammar: Subject Verb Agreement - Worksheet
To solve the problem of subject-verb agreement, we need to ensure that the verb in each sentence agrees with its subject in number (singular or plural). Here is the solution for each sentence, along with an explanation:
---
- Subject: "The rhythm" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: The subject is "The rhythm," which is singular, so the verb should be singular.
- Correct Answer: is
---
- Subject: "All of the dogs" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: "All of the dogs" refers to multiple dogs, so the verb should be plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
- Subject: "A high tax" (singular)
- Verb: "influences"
- Explanation: The main subject is "A high tax," which is singular. The phrase "not to mention unemployment" is additional information and does not change the subject's number.
- Correct Answer: influences
---
- Subject: "My friends and my mother" (plural)
- Verb: "like"
- Explanation: The subjects "My friends" and "my mother" together form a plural subject, so the verb should be plural.
- Correct Answer: like
---
- Subject: "The team and the band" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: "The team" and "the band" are two separate entities, making the subject plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
- Subject: "Building a good marriage and building a good log fire" (plural concept)
- Verb: "are"
- Explanation: The subject refers to two actions ("building a good marriage" and "building a good log fire"), which are treated as plural concepts.
- Correct Answer: are
---
- Subject: "John or Doris" (singular)
- Verb: "writes"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Doris" (singular).
- Correct Answer: writes
---
- Subject: "Neither Carol nor Ted" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: When connected by "nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Ted" (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
---
- Subject: "Either Patty or Tom" (singular)
- Verb: "was"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Tom" (singular).
- Correct Answer: was
---
- Subject: "Neither the basket nor the apples" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: When connected by "nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "the apples" (plural).
- Correct Answer: were
---
- Subject: "Neither the apples nor the basket" (singular)
- Verb: "was"
- Explanation: When connected by "nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "the basket" (singular).
- Correct Answer: was
---
- Subject: "Either Maria or you" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "you" (plural).
- Correct Answer: were
---
- Subject: "Either you or Maria" (singular)
- Verb: "was"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Maria" (singular).
- Correct Answer: was
---
- Subject: "The farmers" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: The subject "the farmers" is plural, so the verb should be plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
- Subject: "Neither of them" (singular)
- Verb: "likes"
- Explanation: "Neither of them" is considered singular.
- Correct Answer: likes
---
- Subject: "Each of them" (singular)
- Verb: "has"
- Explanation: "Each of them" is considered singular.
- Correct Answer: has
---
- Subject: "Everybody" (singular)
- Verb: "has"
- Explanation: "Everybody" is considered singular.
- Correct Answer: has
---
- Subject: "Every silver knife, fork, and spoon" (singular)
- Verb: "has"
- Explanation: "Every" makes the subject singular.
- Correct Answer: has
---
- Subject: "Each cat and each dog" (plural)
- Verb: "have"
- Explanation: "Each cat" and "each dog" together form a plural subject.
- Correct Answer: have
---
- Subject: "The committee" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: "The committee" is treated as a single entity (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
---
- Subject: "Ten million gallons of oil" (singular concept)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: The quantity "ten million gallons" is treated as a single unit (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
---
- Subject: "The jury" (plural)
- Verb: "votes"
- Explanation: "The jury" is treated as a plural entity.
- Correct Answer: votes
---
- Subject: "The number" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: "The number" is singular.
- Correct Answer: is
---
- Subject: "A number of students" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: "A number of" indicates multiple students, so the subject is plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
- Subject: "Ten million gallons of oil" (plural concept)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: The quantity "ten million gallons" is treated as a plural concept.
- Correct Answer: were
---
- Subject: "The majority of us" (plural)
- Verb: "are"
- Explanation: "The majority of" indicates multiple people, so the subject is plural.
- Correct Answer: are
---
- Subject: "Statistics" (plural in the first part, singular in the second part)
- Verb: "are" (first part), "is" (second part)
- Explanation: In the first part, "statistics" refers to the field of study (plural). In the second part, "statistics" refers to the data itself (singular).
- Correct Answer: are, is
---
- Subject: "The sheep" (singular), "Sheep" (plural)
- Verb: "strays" (first part), "stray" (second part)
- Explanation: In the first part, "the sheep" is singular. In the second part, "sheep" is plural.
- Correct Answer: strays, stray
---
1. is
2. were
3. influences
4. like
5. were
6. are
7. writes
8. is
9. was
10. were
11. was
12. were
13. was
14. were
15. likes
16. has
17. has
18. has
19. have
20. is
21. is
22. votes
23. is
24. were
25. were
26. are
27. are, is
28. strays, stray
Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
1. \text{is} & 2. \text{were} & 3. \text{influences} & 4. \text{like} \\
5. \text{were} & 6. \text{are} & 7. \text{writes} & 8. \text{is} \\
9. \text{was} & 10. \text{were} & 11. \text{was} & 12. \text{were} \\
13. \text{was} & 14. \text{were} & 15. \text{likes} & 16. \text{has} \\
17. \text{has} & 18. \text{has} & 19. \text{have} & 20. \text{is} \\
21. \text{is} & 22. \text{votes} & 23. \text{is} & 24. \text{were} \\
25. \text{were} & 26. \text{are} & 27. \text{are}, \text{is} & 28. \text{strays}, \text{stray} \\
\end{array}
}
---
1. The rhythm of the pounding waves is / are calming.
- Subject: "The rhythm" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: The subject is "The rhythm," which is singular, so the verb should be singular.
- Correct Answer: is
---
2. All of the dogs in the neighborhood were / was barking.
- Subject: "All of the dogs" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: "All of the dogs" refers to multiple dogs, so the verb should be plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
3. A high tax, not to mention unemployment, influence / influences votes.
- Subject: "A high tax" (singular)
- Verb: "influences"
- Explanation: The main subject is "A high tax," which is singular. The phrase "not to mention unemployment" is additional information and does not change the subject's number.
- Correct Answer: influences
---
4. My friends and my mother like / likes each other.
- Subject: "My friends and my mother" (plural)
- Verb: "like"
- Explanation: The subjects "My friends" and "my mother" together form a plural subject, so the verb should be plural.
- Correct Answer: like
---
5. The team and the band was / were on the field.
- Subject: "The team and the band" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: "The team" and "the band" are two separate entities, making the subject plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
6. Building a good marriage and building a good log fire is / are similar in many ways.
- Subject: "Building a good marriage and building a good log fire" (plural concept)
- Verb: "are"
- Explanation: The subject refers to two actions ("building a good marriage" and "building a good log fire"), which are treated as plural concepts.
- Correct Answer: are
---
7. John or Doris write / writes to us regularly.
- Subject: "John or Doris" (singular)
- Verb: "writes"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Doris" (singular).
- Correct Answer: writes
---
8. Neither Carol nor Ted is / are excluded from the meeting.
- Subject: "Neither Carol nor Ted" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: When connected by "nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Ted" (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
---
9. Either Patty or Tom was / were asked to lead the meeting.
- Subject: "Either Patty or Tom" (singular)
- Verb: "was"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Tom" (singular).
- Correct Answer: was
---
10. Neither the basket nor the apples was / were expensive.
- Subject: "Neither the basket nor the apples" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: When connected by "nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "the apples" (plural).
- Correct Answer: were
---
11. Neither the apples nor the basket was / were expensive.
- Subject: "Neither the apples nor the basket" (singular)
- Verb: "was"
- Explanation: When connected by "nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "the basket" (singular).
- Correct Answer: was
---
12. Either Maria or you was / were late for class.
- Subject: "Either Maria or you" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "you" (plural).
- Correct Answer: were
---
13. Either you or Maria was / were late for class.
- Subject: "Either you or Maria" (singular)
- Verb: "was"
- Explanation: When connected by "or," the verb agrees with the closer subject, which is "Maria" (singular).
- Correct Answer: was
---
14. Hardest hit by the high temperatures and the drought was / were the farmers.
- Subject: "The farmers" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: The subject "the farmers" is plural, so the verb should be plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
15. Neither of them like / likes going to the show.
- Subject: "Neither of them" (singular)
- Verb: "likes"
- Explanation: "Neither of them" is considered singular.
- Correct Answer: likes
---
16. Each of them has / have a good seat.
- Subject: "Each of them" (singular)
- Verb: "has"
- Explanation: "Each of them" is considered singular.
- Correct Answer: has
---
17. Everybody in the class has / have tickets.
- Subject: "Everybody" (singular)
- Verb: "has"
- Explanation: "Everybody" is considered singular.
- Correct Answer: has
---
18. Every silver knife, fork, and spoon has / have to be counted.
- Subject: "Every silver knife, fork, and spoon" (singular)
- Verb: "has"
- Explanation: "Every" makes the subject singular.
- Correct Answer: has
---
19. Each cat and each dog has / have its own toy.
- Subject: "Each cat and each dog" (plural)
- Verb: "have"
- Explanation: "Each cat" and "each dog" together form a plural subject.
- Correct Answer: have
---
20. The committee is / are meeting today.
- Subject: "The committee" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: "The committee" is treated as a single entity (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
---
21. Ten million gallons of oil is / are a lot of oil.
- Subject: "Ten million gallons of oil" (singular concept)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: The quantity "ten million gallons" is treated as a single unit (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
---
22. The jury vote / votes today.
- Subject: "The jury" (plural)
- Verb: "votes"
- Explanation: "The jury" is treated as a plural entity.
- Correct Answer: votes
---
23. The number is / are very small.
- Subject: "The number" (singular)
- Verb: "is"
- Explanation: "The number" is singular.
- Correct Answer: is
---
24. A number of students was / were absent.
- Subject: "A number of students" (plural)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: "A number of" indicates multiple students, so the subject is plural.
- Correct Answer: were
---
25. Ten million gallons of oil was / were spilled.
- Subject: "Ten million gallons of oil" (plural concept)
- Verb: "were"
- Explanation: The quantity "ten million gallons" is treated as a plural concept.
- Correct Answer: were
---
26. The majority of us is / are in favor.
- Subject: "The majority of us" (plural)
- Verb: "are"
- Explanation: "The majority of" indicates multiple people, so the subject is plural.
- Correct Answer: are
---
27. Statistics is / are an interesting subject. Statistics is / are often misleading.
- Subject: "Statistics" (plural in the first part, singular in the second part)
- Verb: "are" (first part), "is" (second part)
- Explanation: In the first part, "statistics" refers to the field of study (plural). In the second part, "statistics" refers to the data itself (singular).
- Correct Answer: are, is
---
28. The sheep stray / strays when the gate is left open. Sheep stray / strays when the gate is left open.
- Subject: "The sheep" (singular), "Sheep" (plural)
- Verb: "strays" (first part), "stray" (second part)
- Explanation: In the first part, "the sheep" is singular. In the second part, "sheep" is plural.
- Correct Answer: strays, stray
---
Final Answers:
1. is
2. were
3. influences
4. like
5. were
6. are
7. writes
8. is
9. was
10. were
11. was
12. were
13. was
14. were
15. likes
16. has
17. has
18. has
19. have
20. is
21. is
22. votes
23. is
24. were
25. were
26. are
27. are, is
28. strays, stray
Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
1. \text{is} & 2. \text{were} & 3. \text{influences} & 4. \text{like} \\
5. \text{were} & 6. \text{are} & 7. \text{writes} & 8. \text{is} \\
9. \text{was} & 10. \text{were} & 11. \text{was} & 12. \text{were} \\
13. \text{was} & 14. \text{were} & 15. \text{likes} & 16. \text{has} \\
17. \text{has} & 18. \text{has} & 19. \text{have} & 20. \text{is} \\
21. \text{is} & 22. \text{votes} & 23. \text{is} & 24. \text{were} \\
25. \text{were} & 26. \text{are} & 27. \text{are}, \text{is} & 28. \text{strays}, \text{stray} \\
\end{array}
}
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of subject verb agreement worksheets with answers pdf.
